Steerable medical device having an imaging system

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure may include a medical device comprising an elongate member and a handle assembly connected to the elongate member. The handle housing may house a steering mechanism movable relative to the handle assembly and configured to steer the elongate member along a first plane and a second plane different from the first plane, a camera system configured to capture images from a distal end of the elongate member, and an illumination system configured to provide illuminating light from the distal end of the elongate member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical device, comprising:
 a handle assembly including an at least partially spherical portion at a proximal portion of the handle assembly; 
 a member including at least a proximal portion connected to the handle assembly, a medial portion, and a distal portion, wherein the member includes a plurality of combinations of layers of material, and wherein the distal portion of the member includes at least one additional layer not included in a combination of layers of the proximal portion of the member or a combination of layers of the medial portion of the member; and 
 a steering mechanism, wherein the steering mechanism includes first and second actuators movable relative to the proximal portion of the handle assembly to deflect the distal portion of the member, wherein the first actuator is curved around a first portion of the at least partially spherical portion of the proximal portion of the handle assembly, and wherein the second actuator is curved around a second portion of the at least partially spherical portion of the proximal portion of the handle assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is pivotable around the handle assembly in a first direction to deflect the distal portion of the member in a first plane, and wherein the second actuator is pivotable around the handle assembly in a second direction to deflect the distal portion of the member in a second plane different from the first plane. 
     
     
       3. The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are pivotable about different portions of the handle assembly. 
     
     
       4. The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the steering mechanism includes a first cam and a second cam housed within the handle assembly, and a plurality of control members operably coupled to the first and second cams, wherein the plurality of control members extend through the member and are coupled to the distal portion of the member. 
     
     
       5. The medical device of  claim 4 , wherein the first actuator is operably coupled to the first cam and the second actuator is operably coupled to the second cam, wherein actuation of the first actuator steers the distal portion of the member along the first plane, and actuation of the second actuator steers the distal portion of the member along the second plane. 
     
     
       6. The medical device of  claim 2 , further comprising a lock mechanism, wherein the lock mechanism includes a tension knob configured to actuate between a locked position and an unlocked position of the distal portion of the member. 
     
     
       7. The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator includes a lever pad coupled to a remainder of the first actuator or the second actuator via a connection member. 
     
     
       8. The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the connection member includes a slot, wherein the lever pad includes a pin, and wherein the lever pad is coupled to the connection member via a snap fit connection between the slot and the pin. 
     
     
       9. The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a camera system configured to capture images from a distal end of the member; and 
 an illumination system configured to provide illumination from the distal end of the member. 
 
     
     
       10. The medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the handle assembly includes a connector hub positioned on a distal portion of the handle assembly and angled toward the member, and
 wherein the medical device further comprises a connector configured to connect the handle assembly to a control module including one or more processing units for operating the camera system or the illumination system. 
 
     
     
       11. The medical device of  claim 10 , wherein the connector includes a looped portion positioned within the handle assembly. 
     
     
       12. A medical device, comprising:
 a handle assembly including an at least partially spherical portion at a proximal portion of the handle assembly; 
 a member including at least a proximal portion connected to the handle assembly, a medial portion, and a distal portion, wherein each of the proximal portion, the medial portion, and the distal portion includes one or more combinations of layers of material, and wherein the combination of layers of material in the distal portion includes at least one additional layer of material not included in the proximal portion or in the medial portion; and 
 a steering mechanism, wherein the steering mechanism includes two actuators movable relative to the proximal portion of the handle assembly to deflect the distal portion of the member. 
 
     
     
       13. The medical device of  claim 12 , further comprising a lock mechanism, wherein the lock mechanism includes a tension knob configured to actuate between a locked position and an unlocked position of the distal portion of the member, and
 wherein the two actuators are curved around the at least partially spherical portion of the proximal portion of the handle assembly. 
 
     
     
       14. The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the two actuators are a first actuator and a second actuator, wherein the first actuator is pivotable around a first portion of the handle assembly to deflect the distal portion of the member in a first plane, and wherein the second actuator is pivotable around a second portion of the handle assembly to deflect the distal portion of the member in a second plane different from the first plane. 
     
     
       15. The medical device of  claim 14 , wherein the steering mechanism includes a first cam, a second cam, and a plurality of control members, wherein the plurality of control members are operably coupled to the first and second cams and extend from the handle assembly through the member, wherein the plurality of control members are coupled to the distal portion of the member, and wherein the distal portion of the member includes a plurality of deflection segments within an outer sleeve. 
     
     
       16. The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the handle assembly includes a connector hub positioned on a distal portion of the handle assembly and angled toward the member, and
 wherein the medical device further comprises a connector configured to connect the handle assembly to a control module including one or more processing units for operating a camera system or an illumination system, wherein the connector is configured to be removably connected to the handle assembly via the connector hub. 
 
     
     
       17. A medical device, comprising:
 a member including at least a proximal portion, a medial portion, and a distal portion; 
 a handle assembly connected to the proximal portion of the member, wherein the handle assembly includes:
 an at least partially spherical portion at a proximal portion of the handle assembly; and 
 a connector hub positioned on a distal portion of the handle assembly and angled toward the member, and 
 
 a connector configured to connect the handle assembly to a control module including one or more processing units for operating a camera system or an illumination system; and 
 a steering mechanism, wherein the steering mechanism includes two actuators movable relative to the proximal portion of the handle assembly to deflect the distal portion of the member, wherein the two actuators are curved around different portions of the at least partially spherical portion of the proximal portion of the handle assembly, 
 wherein the proximal portion of the member includes a proximal combination of layers of material, wherein the medial portion of the member includes a medial combination of layers of material different from the proximal combination of layers of material, wherein the distal portion of the member includes a distal combination of layers of material, and wherein the distal combination of layers of material includes an additional layer of material not included in the proximal combination of layers of material or in the medial combination of layers of material. 
 
     
     
       18. The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the connector includes a looped portion positioned within the handle assembly. 
     
     
       19. The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the steering mechanism includes a first cam, a second cam, and a plurality of control members housed within the handle assembly, wherein each control member of the plurality of control members is operably coupled to one of the first cam or the second cam and extends through the member, and wherein the plurality of control members is coupled to the distal portion of the member. 
     
     
       20. The medical device of  claim 19 , wherein the first actuator is operably coupled to the first cam and the second actuator is operably coupled to the second cam, wherein actuation of the first actuator steers the distal portion of the member along the first plane, and wherein actuation of the second actuator steers the distal portion of the member along the second plane.